Lone Star Project’s Abbott Tracking Report

Broken promises, pandering and weakness revealed

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Today, Greg Abbott begins his re-election campaign in San Antonio – the same spot he announced his campaign for Texas Governor four years ago. Back in 2013, Abbott opened the campaign saying he would “keep Texas the #1 economy in the nation.” That’s a bold promise but it’s type of campaign bluster typically made by Abbott, never thinking he’ll be held accountable.

Well, Lone Star Project staff and volunteers were watching, listening and documenting Abbott’s appearance in San Antonio and have continued to track him since. So, don’t take Greg Abbott at his word. Lone Star Project cameras, recorders and researchers mean that we can measure Abbott’s rhetoric against his record. Take a look at the facts, and hold Greg Abbott accountable. We think you’ll agree with us. Three years in, Greg Abbott has taken shape as the weakest, least effective Texas Governor in decades.

As Abbott kicks off his re-election, Lone Star Project has compared some of Abbott’s speeches to his record and the results are revealing. Greg Abbott makes and breaks promises. He puffs himself up while pandering to the most destructive and divisive forces within the Republican Party. Take a look:

Abbott’s Broken Promise on Texas Jobs and Economy

“with me as your governor, Texas will remain the number one state for creating jobs” — San Antonio, 10/31/2013

In nearly every speech during his 2014 campaign Abbott promised to keep Texas number one in job creation, and his “Working Texans” plan said he would keep Texas’ economy first in the nation.

“I will ensure from the top of the ticket to the bottom of our ticket that our party is reaching to send a positive message”– McAllen, 5/15/2014

During his 2014 campaign, Abbott visited the Border shortly after a fresh round of Dan Patrick anti-Latino rhetoric. To distance himself, Abbott told highly respected McAllen Monitor Editor Carlos Sanchez that he would take anti-Hispanic and derogatory comments personally and hold other Republicans accountable for their rhetoric.

“make no doubt, we will continue to hunt down and arrest the human traffickers who exploit children but until we end this scourge, we must do all we can to help the youngest victims.”– Dallas, 2/4/2014

At the rollout of his so-called “Securing Texans” policy plan, Abbott pledged to crack down on human traffickers and protect Texas children.

“To help pre-k 4 classes become genuine pre-literacy and pre-numeracy programs, my education plan will create a gold standard for high quality pre-K education. My plan provides additional funding, $1,500 more per student, to any pre-K 4 program that adopts the gold standard” –Dallas, 9/26/2014

At the same time that Greg Abbott was dragging Texas neighborhood schools through court trying to get back millions in school funding cut by the Republican legislature, Abbott promised a “Gold Standard” Pre-Kindergarten program to give the youngest Texans a better start to a good education.

“The state wants local government to do something; the state should help shoulder the responsibility to pay for it..” Houston, 11/5/2013

During the 2014 campaign, Abbott preached the local control gospel, saying “I submit we need a constitutional amendment prohibiting the state from putting any more unfunded mandates on local governments…”

Facts: Abbott was barely in the Governor’s Mansion before he ditched the local control shtick and went full Big Government Republican. From local zoning to fracking restrictions to education mandates, Abbott has moved to big foot local voters and local elected officials. He has demanded that they follow orders from Austin that cost voters their money and their right to local control.

Paid for by the Lone Star Project, www.lonestarproject.net, not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

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